Today's best Shark vacuum cleaners have become a serious rival to the likes of Dyson. This brand now crops up repeatedly in our best vacuum cleaner roundup, and with good reason: they're well designed and well built, with clever additions that range from simple-but-super-useful (a flexible wand that lets you get right under furniture without bending down) to hi-tech (sensors that detect dirt, floor type and edges, and respond accordingly), to unexpected (an odor-neutralizing puck that keeps your vacuum and floors smelling fresh).
The Shark vacuum range is massive, encompassing everything from cordless stick vacs to uprights to handhelds. All that choice can be overwhelming though, and not least thanks to this brand's confusing naming conventions. To help you crack through the jargon and figure out which is the right Shark vacuum cleaner for you, we've put together this guide.
All the models in this list have been thoroughly tested by experienced reviewers in real-world scenarios, and been given our official stamp of approval. Read on for the best Shark vacuums on the market today.
The quick list
Best overall
This is the latest and greatest Shark cordless, and it combines the best bits of the other lines, with powerful suction and a range of useful smart features. It's a little pricier, but this is the best Shark vacuum you can buy now.
Best value
It's less powerful than the Stratos and PowerDetect, but will work perfectly well for most people's needs. It comes with smart features for handling different floor types, and with regular discounts tends to offer outstanding value for money.
Best for carpet
If you have mostly carpet, the Stratos Cordless offers powerful suction, for a deeper clean. It's slightly heavier and less tech-packed than the Detect Pro and PowerDetect, but it delivers when it comes to cleaning power.
Best Shark robovac
A robot vacuum is perfect for regular, light cleans with minimal effort and disruption. This one can mop as well as vacuuming and offers reliable navigation, although the suction is lower than the manual models here.
Best upright
If you're looking for outright power and don't mind going for a heavier, corded model to get it, this is the Shark vacuum for you. It's perfect for deep cleans and tackling ingrained dirt.
Best cheap Shark vacuum
This is one of the most affordable Shark vacuums we've tested, and great value for the price. The modular design is versatile and the suction is good. You will have to cope with going corded, though.
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Best handheld
If you just need something for small-scale cleanups, this versatile handheld vacuum has enough battery and suction to clean a whole car. It comes with well-designed and useful attachments for different kinds of jobs.
Best lightweight
A handheld vacuum that can be transformed into a floor vac by adding a wand and floorhead, the WandVac System is lightweight and comfortable to use. The very short battery life means it's for small cleanups only.
The best Shark vacuum overall
The best Shark vacuum in the lineup right now is the Shark PowerDetect Cordless. This is the newest cordless vacuum in the range, and combines the outright power of the Stratos line (#3) with the smart features of the Detect Pro line (#2), with a few extra tricks thrown in for good measure. In terms of performance, it's the best option you can buy, but that also means it's one of the priciest – although still nowhere near as expensive as many other brands' range-toppers, and still very strong value for money.
This clever vacuum can sense its environment and auto-adjust accordingly for a clean that's effective as well as battery-efficient. So it knows what type of floor it's on and how dirty that floor is, and whether it's near the edge of a room, and will increase or lower suction in response. It'll also brighten its headlamps when it senses it's going into a darker area. On test we found all these features worked as advertised – our tester were especially impressed with the edge cleaning features.
The floorhead has been upgraded for this model so that it can clean just as well on the pull-back as it does when being pushed forwards. Our reviewer wasn't entirely convinced she could see a difference compared to other vacuums, though, so don't pick the PowerDetect based entirely on this feature.
No specifics are given on suction, but Shark says it's as powerful as the suckiest cordless models you'll find elsewhere in the lineup (namely, the Stratos cordless). It aced all our suction tests, and worked just as well on carpet as it did on hard floors. However, for ultimate power, you'll need to concede some maneuverability and go for a corded upright (#5).
Maneuverability is good, with a wand that bends forward to help you get under furniture without having to crouch down. An extra bonus feature is the optional auto-empty base. This sucks the dust straight from the canister when docked, minimizing the number of visits to the bin and the amount of dust that can escape back into the air, making it a particularly strong choice for those with allergies. The Detect Pro (#2) is currently the only other option to have a compatible auto-empty base.
Read our full Shark PowerDetect cordless vacuum review
The best value Shark vacuum
The Shark Detect Pro cordless comes a close second in our best Shark vacuum ranking, and is definitely one to check out if you're looking to maximize your value for money – at full price, it's a mid-range model, but it has attracted lots of hefty discounts lately, taking it down to around $200 in the US or £250 in the UK, and at that price it's an absolute steal. On balance of performance to price, this will be the best cordless vacuum for most people.
It's not as powerful as either the PowerDetect at #1 or Stratos at #3, but the suction will be fine for most people, and the payoff is that it's also lighter than both those models. Bar the suction-in-reverse feature, you're getting all the same automations included with the PowerDetect (see exactly how the two compare in our Shark PowerDetect vs Detect Pro article). This vac can adjust suction based on whether it's on hard floor or carpet, how much dirt it on the floor, and whether it's near the edge of a room.
Like many Shark stick vacuums, the wand can bend to 90-degrees to help you reach under furniture, or removed for use in handheld mode. There's also HEPA filtration and an optional auto-empty base, which only appears on the newest Shark cordless vacs. Our review model included this optional extra, and our tester was supremely impressed with it.
The Detect Pro's range of technologies make it ultra-versatile and a great choice if you have a range of floor types in your home. However, if you have mostly carpet, or are dealing with lots of dust or pet hair, you might be better with the Shark PowerDetect (#1) or Stratos Cordless (#3), both of which pack more outright power.
Read our full Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum review
The best Shark vacuum for carpet
If your home is mostly carpet, you'll want a vacuum with some oomph. Enter: the Shark Stratos Cordless. It's heavier and bulkier than the Detect Pro at #2, but packs more power, which is what you need if you're going to get dust and dirt out of your carpets. The dust cup is generous in size, meaning fewer trips to the trash while you're cleaning. Like a number of Shark's newer vacuum cleaners, it has an odor-neutralizer built in, designed to keep your vacuum fresh, even if the dust cup is full of dog hair. It's worth considering if you're looking for the best vacuum for pet hair.
We will state upfront that based on specs and performance, there's no reason to choose the Stratos instead of the PowerDetect (#1). However, discounts are common on the Stratos, so if you spot a good price-drop that makes it cheaper than the PowerDetect, it's definitely worth considering.
The Stratos can intelligently detect dirt on the floor, and increase suction in response, although it doesn't have the complete range of automation features – it can't detect edges, nor will it offer the PowerDetect's suction-in-reverse skills. The main floorhead has two rollers to enable it to tackle hard floors as well as carpet, and there's a guard that siphons off hair as it's collected, rather than letting it clog the rollers.
That extra power and larger bin size means it's heavier than many Shark stick vacuums, but it's still a cordless stick vacuum, and the design is impressively maneuverable despite that extra weight. You've got that popular flexible wand, and the floorhead can pivot at 90 degrees to get into the corners of closets and the like.
Read our full Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum review
The best Shark robot vacuum
If you're looking for a hands-off option, the PowerDetect robot vacuum and mop is our favorite Shark robovac. This clever robovac can be operated remotely via the app, or set to run regularly on a schedule, for absolutely minimal disruption and effort. It can also mop as well as vacuuming, meaning it can take care of your hard floors as well as your carpets.
There are some limitations to going for a robo-option. Even today's best robot vacuums aren't as powerful as a manual vacuum, so you'll want to supplement it with a backup vac for deep cleans (as well as tackling things like stairs and furniture). Where robot vacuums – including this one – excel, is at regular, light cleaning, so the dust doesn't get a chance to build up.
Overall, this robot vacuum impressed our reviewer on test. It can auto-adjust suction based on floor type and dirt levels, lift itself over especially tall room thresholds, and is great at navigating and avoiding obstacles, so you'll be able to confidently leave it to clean while you're out of the house. It's not perfect – mopping left our tester's floors wetter than they'd like, and you can't override the automations to set water and suction levels manually, which is unusual and annoying. Despite these niggles, we still think it offers good value for money, and is a solid pick if you're looking for a Shark vacuum to take all the hassle out of cleaning.
Read our full Shark PowerDetect robot vacuum review
The best upright Shark vacuum
The Shark Stratos Upright is the most powerful vacuum on our list, which means if you're looking for something to do a deep clean, or have particularly hairy or messy pets, it'll be more than up to the job.
It's bulky and heavy compared to the stick vacuums in this ranking, but it has been designed to be as maneuverable as possible. For example, the dust cup / motor mechanism can be lifted off and held, while you use the cleaner head on the end of a stretch hose – either with our without the wand part attached. (Or tester noted that the stretch hose could have been a bit longer, though.) The wand doesn't bend in the middle for use at 90-degrees, but that wouldn't work with the upright vacuum design.
We also found that it did a particularly good job of picking up hair, while the cleaner head's anti-hair wrap technology helps prevent said hair from clogging up the dual brushrolls. An anti-odor puck ensures the machine, and your floors, stay fresh. All our testers who try this feature end up completely sold on it, gimmicky though it may sound.
If the cord is a deal-breaker, check out the cordless stick version from this line (#3), which still packs plenty of power and is a good choice for pet owners.
Read our full Shark Stratos Upright review
The best cheap Shark vacuum
Note: the version we reviewed is no longer available in the US. There is a very similar US version – the HZ3002 – with a similarly affordable price tag, but there's no bendable wand, and some of the specs are different to the model we're talking about here.
If you're on a tighter budget, the Shark Stratos Corded stick is one of the most affordable vacuums in the brand's range, and it's excellent value for that affordable price tag. This is far from a basic model – the suction is powerful, there's an anti-odor puck to neutralize bad smells (a feature that never fails to win over our reviewers) and anti-hair wrap tech to guard against clogged brushrolls. The bendable hose means you can get right under furniture without having to stoop down, and the floorhead pivots to 90-degrees to get into tight corners, too. None of these features are unique to this particular model, but they're still worth calling out.
You won't get the automation features found on #1-3 on this list, so you'll need to be prepared to adjust suction manually. It's also corded, and while the 10m cable means you'll still be able to roam fairly freely, this might still be a deal-breaker for some. Our tester was also annoyed by the small dust cup, which might prove irritating if you're dealing with large volumes of dust or pet hair.
Read our full Shark Stratos Corded stick vacuum review
The best handheld Shark vacuum
Shark makes a few handheld vacuums, but our favorite is the UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus. It's compact and lightweight, and on test we found it packed enough suction power to pick up small and large debris, although it did sometimes take a few passes to grab the remnants of finer dust. We'd have preferred a swappable battery, but in lieu of that we're happy with the 15 minutes of runtime we got on a single charge (longer than the advertised 10 minutes). The dustbin is decently sizes, if a bit finicky to open. The three included tools make this vacuum particularly versatile and able to tackle a range of different cleaning tasks. All of this means we rate it one of the very best car vacuums around, as well as one of the best handheld vacuums.
Read our full Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus review
Best lightweight Shark vacuum
The Shark WandVac system is essentially a handheld vacuum with an additional floorhead and wand that can be added to transform it into an ultra-lightweight floor vac. On test, our reviewer found it comfortable and easy to use, with a surprising amount of power. It worked especially well on hard floors, although it's also suitable for use on carpet, and it comes with anti-hair wrap tech to stop your floorhead getting clogged with hair as you clean. As you'd expect, it's one of the cheapest floor vacuums in our ranking.
This vacuum is perfect for small, light cleaning tasks. The short battery life (up to 16 minutes in most territories) and small dust cup mean it's no good for a whole-home clean, and while it offers decent suction for its size, it can't compete with any of the brand's dedicated floor vacuums on power, either. If you don't need the versatility of being able to use it as a floor vacuum, it's available as just a handheld, or check out our favorite Shark handheld vacuum at #7.
Read our full Shark Wandvac System review
How to choose the best Shark vacuum for you
Which is the best Shark Vacuum for you depends on your needs. If you need power and are okay using a cord, the corded options here (#4 and #5) are going to deliver the most suction. It's a good idea to proritize this is you have lot of carpet in your home, or particularly hairy or messy pets.
If portability is a priority, you'll want a cordless model. Not only are you not limited by a cord, but these types are typically made to be lighter and more compact. You won’t have quite the same dustbin capacity or power, but you’ll find these types to be easier to use.
Of course, the ultimate in hands-free operation will be a robot vacuum. There will be more initial setup as you’ll have to download an app and run the unit to map out your space, but once that’s all done, you can vacuum and maybe mop your floors with just a couple of presses in an app. These are ideal for regular cleaning but aren’t as good for any deep cleaning situations.
Frequently asked questions about Shark vacuums
What's better: Shark or Dyson?
While you can read our Shark vs Dyson: which vacuum cleaner brand is better? for a deeper dive. Comparing these two brands comes down to what kind of vacuum cleaner you want as Dyson focuses a large part of their line-up on feature-fill-cordless models as well as some canister-style ones while Shark has a much larger stable of vacuum cleaners including robot vacuums.
Shark on the whole is a bit cheaper than Dyson so if you’re on a budget, you’ll probably want to consider Shark. Both brands are very good when it comes to suction power, but Dysons generally come out ahead with battery life and weight.
What are shark vacuums best at?
Since Shark’s lineup of vacuums, unlike Dyson’s, is so varied, there’s no one category that rises above the others. The cordless models are fully featured and do great work for day-to-day cleaning while corded canister models are great for deep cleaning. And, though not as extensive as iRobot, Shark robot vacuums are pretty adept for a more hands-free approach; see our Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum review for one great example.
Basically, the company is very well-rounded in its offerings and the quality of those offerings.
Are shark vacuums good quality?
Shark has models at quite a few price points and the level of quality varies on how much you invest. The premium and mid-range models come with some great new features and some stellar performance. But, as you go cheaper, they get a little more barebones in terms of features and don’t have as much oomph. They can also suffer from reliability issues as some have reported online.
What does “Stratos” means?
You may have seen the word “Stratos” attached to some but not all of Shark’s models. This designation has been around 2022 for models equipped with stronger suction or cleaning power, anti-hair wrap technology to keep hair from tangling the brushrolls, and odor neutralizer technology to leave your floors smelling fresh.
How we tested these Shark vacuums
As with all the vacuum cleaners that we test, we put each review unit through its paces, seeing how it does with fine dust and dirt to larger debris. We check not only overall performance but specific circumstances, such as how a vacuum does with edges and corners, not to mention different types of surfaces such as hard flooring and carpets.
Additionally, we take a look at included features and how well they’re implemented – after all, a feature is not much of an addition if it isn’t well done. Where applicable, we also look at things like battery life and app support.
Read more on how we test vacuum cleaners.
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